Welcome. We're your premier source for fun places to explore by bicycle or on foot. Offering guides, maps and articles on road and trail riding for the novice to seasoned cyclist - helping you find your #NextBikeAdventure
Traveling closer to home is the new norm for many of us, so that a bicycling staycation may open your eyes to new horizons with economic and environmental concerns. Using sustainable travel, like a bike, allows an adventurer to see points of interest and landscapes not commonly noticed when using other modes of transportation. Also, planning an overnight on your next staycation will make your bicycle ride there and back even more enjoyable. So, two questions you may want to ask yourself: How many miles can you comfortably ride in a given day? And, what town is 10 to 50 miles away that fits into your range, so your next adventure is memorable?
Join the fun ride with new and old friends on Sunday, October 8th, for the thirteenth annual Mankato River Ramble. This year's ride offers a 16, 30, or 42-mile scenic route option with tasty rest stop options along the way. Find delicious pies and other foods, beverages, live music, and more at each stop. Routes can be easily combined for those who want to add additional mileage and colorful scenery.
As Minneapolis continues its Open Streets series of bike/walk events for 2023, enjoy the last event scheduled for 2023 events on Lynday Avenue. This last event will again demonstrate how congested city streets can become vibrant, pedestrian-friendly boulevards. Where people can dream, play, and explore.
Regardless of the length of your bike ride or other outdoor activity, don't forget to bring plenty of H20. Many times riders will assume that because the weather is cool or a ride is a short distance, they don’t need to bring water. Truth be told, the biggest drain on your energy level while riding can be related to dehydration. Stay hydrated by bringing water or a sports drink along on all rides.
Use protection, a reminder from the '90s with Baz Luhrmann's song, "Everybody is free to wear sunscreen." A timeless reminder that many forget. We get so caught up in preparing for our races and rides. We check our equipment and focus on our nutrition. We check whether we have all our goodies and gear during the transition. We try advice online from other athletes, coaches, and magazines. However, we forget the most important thing we need to do during these summer events is to apply sunscreen and stay hydrated.
Towards the southern edge of Bloomington, you will find the Minnesota River Bottoms Trail System, which is fun to ride throughout the year. For my most recent visit, I used the trailhead near the Bloomington Ferry Bridge. Here, you'll see a rocky slope that travels down into the woods. A start of a great adventure. It's known as the Minnesota River Bottoms Trail. The single-track trails here are perfect for a mountain bike, but you are safe on a Hybrid-trail/path bike, also. But you will have to watch where you're riding.
There is no shortage of fun in Minnesota, and looking at the latest MN Bike Guide with all the maps, we wanted to see how Alex (Alexandria) fits as a one-tank, multi-modal, round-trip destination. With increased gas prices taking a bite out of your wallet, we found that the Alexandria Lakes Area fits the criteria well. The perfect place to park the car and use a bicycle to get around. On this trip, we found a charming inn and a great place to relax. Plus, it was easy to reach the local bike routes, local trails, historic downtown attractions, and several restaurants within easy walking distance.
In Minnesota’s north mining region, the towns along the Mesabi Trail host several of the state’s historical gems and a family fun destination to explore by bike or on foot. In this pristine area of the state, you will find over 28 small mining communities along this well-known paved trail system. With the trail here, it is easy to travel from town to town by bike. From Grand Rapids on the western end to Ely, 150 miles to the east, there are a lot of fun sights to see as you ride. For the mountain biker, this area has left many rugged deposits to perfect your skills. The area also boasts some of Minnesota’s best scenic road touring routes, with low-traffic roadway loop options returning to the Mesabi Trail.
Now that summer is here and many traditional outdoor activities are coming to the top of my list, I have a big decision to make. With my new e-bike, where should I go for my first out-of-town weekend bike getaway?
One of my favorites is Albert Lea, Minnesota, A one-tank getaway that offers a beautiful bike route around Fountain Lake that makes it easy to connect to the Blazing Star State Trail. Another option is to follow one of the routes from the annual bike ride called Rock n' Roll the Lakes. offering cyclists of all abilities several fun, scenic route options for that #NextBikeAdventure!
John Brown loves riding his mountain bike and enjoys sharing that passion with his boys. He dedicates weekends to teaching his kids the following exercises on mountain biking so they ’ love the sport as he does. Through their eyes, the sense of freedom and excitement is shown with enthusiasm giving his kids a fantastic experience. Here are a few tips John has learned that you may want to use.
